Machine for expanding metal sheets



July 'M. s. GROH ET AL MACHINE FOR EXPANDING METAL S HEETS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Au 12, 1924 I ljmentom 5. are Jbse h /zflalls,

Melvin July 26, 1927.

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Patented July 26,1927. i v f 1,636,774

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MELVIN SOLOMON GROH, OF TORONTO. ONTARIO, CANADA, AND JOSEPH A. HALLS, OI YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS TO TRUSCON STEEL COMPANY, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

. MACHINE FOR EXPANDING SHEETS. I Application filed August 12, 1924. 'Serial No. 781,684.

This invention relates to the subject of of structural modification without de artexpanding preslitted metal sheets to proingfrom the spirit orsacrificing any the 55 duce metal lath and equivalent expanded advantages of the invention, but a preferred metal products, generally used in building and practical embodiment of the invention construction, and primarily has forits obis .shown in the accompanying drawings, in ]8Ct a machine of maximum simplicity as which: 7 compared with machines now in general use Figure 1 is a vertical central cross-sectiom 60 for fabricating the same product. al view of a drum type expanding machine The machinery'usually employed for openembodying the, improvements contemplated mg and ex anding slitted metal sheets isby'the present invention. quite complicated and ex ensive because'of Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of the he numerous parts invo vcd and the nicemain operating unit of the machine, show- 65 ties of adjustments required so that the maing more clearly by enlargement the 0 erachine'will engage and act upon the individtive relation between the ex anding rum,

ual strands formed by the slits. The pres he stationary tool steel die lock, and the ent invention is intended to accomplish the holding-down pressure block. desired result with a machine of very/sim- Figure 3 is a top diagrammatic plan view 70 ple construction, and of a comparatively few of aform of corru ated slitted blank working parts, so that the expense of buildwh ch ay be expande in the machine.

ing and maintaining such a machine shall be Fl ure 4 is an edge View Of he form f ve much less than the expense of building the b ank shown in Fig. 3. p an maintaining the machines in general use Figure 5 is a side elevation of the machine 75 for expanding slitted metal sheets. Fur-- from its feeding-in side, partly broken away thermore, it is the pur ose of the re ent into more clearly illustrate the novel frame I \V ntion to provide an expanding machine construction of the machine. y having the means and capacity forevenly Figure 6 is a detaiLelevation'of the novel and accurately expan I sheet for its full length, and width. ing table .for the slitted sheets as well as for Another object of the invention is to pro the adjustable support of the stationary die vide'an ex andin machine which may satlock- Y isfactorily e used 'n connection witha slit. Figure 7 is an end'vieWbfh ac ne} ted metal sheet which has previously been igure 8 is top "pl n ie of t e machine as corrugated, in order that the o eration of at n nd p rtlon thereof. opening and expanding the meta sheet may Flgure S a P 1 P y Sectlon be earned on evenly and without buckling 0f the sectional expanding drum or rol and without imposing excessive stretching howing its unit by unit formation and the strains on the individual'strands at the sides spiral set given to the different collar units. 90 of the slits. Figure 10 is a vertical cross-sectional With. these and other bj cts in i w view of the expanding roll through one of 40 which will more readily appear as the -na-" its collar,un1ts for instance on the line ture. of the invention is better understood, 10-10 of Figure 9. the same consists in the novel construction,- and combination of parts hereinafter more tudinal sectional v1ew o a portion oft e particularly referred to, illustrated and ional expanding drum showing more claimed. clearly thedetailed construction of each of The primary features of the invention are the collar. units and the manner of keying it disclosed inmy pending a plication for on the body roll, Patent Serial -No. 677,262 filed November Like references designate corresponding 27, 1923 and the present case involves imparts throughout the several figures of theportant structural improvements, contributdrawings.

ing materiall to the elliciency of the ma- The distinctive feature of the present inding a slitted' etal table frame unit which provides the feedv Figure 11 is an enlar ed detailed lon as.

chine. It wi 1 be understood, that the ma vention resides in an o'erating unit of 0x 0 chine of the present invention is susceptible treme simplicity and e ciency.- That operpressed, which provides for the opening of the material. The said expanding unit also preferably includes a pressure bar C arranged parallel with the stationary die block B and in the vertical plane thereof to act as a guide and holding-down element for the slitted sheet, providing means for guiding said sheet into the die pass a and also firmly holding the sheet in such pass while the ribs of the drum engage uncut portions of the sheet.

The entire operating unit comprising the drum A, the die block B and the pressure bar C is supported by a frame-work specially designed to resist undue vibration, and to so brace and support the stationary die block throughout its entire length as to obviate the possibility of such die block having any downward or inward deflection, at any point, that might interfere with the uniforn'iity of the operation of evenly opening a single row of the strands at one time throughout the entire length of the slitted sheet. This novel frame-work includes in its organization the opposite upright frame end stands 1 1 which preferably are rigid ly connected together by a structural base frame 2 which operates as a distance rail to separate the frame end stands a proper distance apart, according to the length of the expanding roll which length is determined by the length of the sheet to be operated upon by the machine. The said combined base frame and distance rail 2 is preferably of I-beam formation in cross section in order to obtain all of the structural strength of a beam or girder of that form, the same including the upright longitudinal web 3 and the upper and lower oppositely projecting flanges 4 which provide the I-beam; and; in addition thereto the said structural base frame is preferably provided upon both sides thereof at suitable intervals with the upright stiffening flanges 5 as may be clearly seen from Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The stiffening flanges 5 at the ends of the structural base frame 2 serve as bolting flanges to receive the clamping bolts 6 extending through bolt openings in such flanges and through corresponding bolt openings in the frame end stands 11, thereby completing a skeleton frame struc, ture entirely adequate for carrying and supporting the working parts of the machine.

The structural base frame 2 is fitted in plaice between the opposite frame end stands 1-1 at a distance below the upper ends of said stands in order to leave a space between tionary die block B as well as a feeding table over which the slitted sheets are fed in any suitable manner to the die pass 0 of the operating unit. As seen particularly in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, of the drawings the table frame-unit 7 is of a truss or girder formation. It includes a flanged top chord 8 extending longitudinally of the frame unit the full length thereof, and the oppositely inclined flanged bottom chords 99 which connect with the vertical end legs 10 of the frame unit 7 and incline inwardly and downwardly from such end legs to a lower plane where they join with a central bearing saddle or foot 11 having a flat bottom seating surface 12 which has a firm bearing engagement with the upper flat central bearing seat 13 formed at the center and upper side of the bottom structural base frame 2 of the frame. The end portions or legs 10 of the frame unit 7 are provided at their bottom portions with the terminal bearing feet '14 which have a flat bearing engagement with the upper bearing seats of the bearing shoulders 16 which project inwardly from the frame end stands 11 at a point above the base frame 2. Thus, it will be seen that the table frame unit 7 has a three-point support with a deep girder formation at the center, thus presenting the form of a bridge girder, and bringing the strength and advantages of such a girder into a unit designed preferably to support a stationary die block, and to resist all strains and shocks which are imposed on that die block in the expanding operation.

The table frame unit 7 above described is adjustably mounted in order to provide the finest adjustment desired or required for the stationary die block B. For that purpose it will be seen that the fastening bolts 17 which connect the end portions of the frame. unit 7 with the supporting shoulders 16 of the end stands pass through slotted holes 18 which admit, when said bolts 17 are loosened. of adjustment of the frame unit 7 toward and from the expanding roll 8, this adjustment being made through the medium of adjusting screw-bolts 19 mounted in the bolt lugs 20 provided at the,tops of the end frames 11, the inner ends of said screwbolts 19 engaging as at 21 with the table-top part 22 of the said frame unit. Jam nuts 23 upon opposite sides of the bolt lugs 20 provide for locking the screw-bolts 1.) against movement, after proper adjustment has been made. Likewise the fastening bolts 17 are tightened after been made.

proper adjustment has lot) * operating unit may fed through the die pass to the operating unit. and at its inner edge adjacent the expanding roll the frame unit 2 is provided therein with an angular mortise forming a receiving recess for thestationary die block B and providing a solid seat or base upon which it rests; also, a solid back against which it rests; both of which features is important in the mounting of a die block subject to the shocks of an operation such as takesplace in the present machine, Upon wear in itself orin the cooperating elements of the operating 'unit which might require a vertical adjustment of the die block B, such adjustment is provided for by adjusting screw-bolts 26 extending through vertically arranged slots 27 formed in the top part of the table frame unit 7 the. threaded ends of said bolts engaging threaded sockets in the die block B. The loosening and:

permit of stationary the dotted line in Fig. 1 of the drawings, a thin metal shim or shims may be interposed between the seat 25 and the bottom of the die block so that the solid.bottom seat for the latter may be maintained under all conditions.

The holding-down pressure bar C of the be conveniently supported in its operative position from the angular upstanding supporting brackets 28 surmounting and mounted upon the frame end stands 1-1. The upstanding members 29 of the said brackets are provided with the slotted holes 30 which receive .the screw bolts 31 engaging threaded openings in the pressure bar C, the loosening of said bolts 31 permitting of the vertical adjustment of the pressure bar C to vary the width of the die pass 0, according to tie requirements of the slitted sheet. This vertical adjustment of the pressure bar C isaccomplished by the adjusting screws 32 working through threaded openings 33 in o\-erhanging top flanges 34 of the brackets 28 and engaging threaded openings 35 in the end portions of the pressure bar. Lock nuts 36 are preferably associated with the adjusting screws hold the adjustment.

A detail of practical importance in connection with the pressure bar C is the particular construction'of the active end there of. That is to say, the pressure bar is provided at one side of its bottom edge portion with an inclined guide face 36 which pro vides a flaring opening through which the edge of the slitted sheet may be inserted for guiding into the pass 0. At the .side opposite the inclined guide face 36 the face 0 the tightening of the bolts 26 will slight vertical adjustment'of the die block, and,- as indicated by pressure barC is curved as at 37 'vention not only from a manufacturing cylindrical body baseupon which preferably on the same are of-a circle. with the curved guiding face 38 on the stationary die block B. The said curved faces37 and 38 are substantially concentric with the ribbed periphery of the expanding roll A, permitting the ribs'thereof to pass in very close proximity to the anvil edge I) of the die block,

the curved part 38 of the die block serving tofacilitate the downward deflection of the expanded portion of the sheet, as fast as the expansion takes place.

, The structural formation of the expanding drum A is an important part of the instandpoint, but also from the standpoint of contributing materially to the commercial success of the machine. Referring thereto it will be. seen particularly by reference to the roup of. Figs. 9, 10 and 11 that the expanding drum primarily includes a body roll 39 provided at its ends with the journals or gudgeons 40 journaled in suitable bearings 41 provided in the end stands of the frame. This body roll is substantially coextensive in length with the length of the sheetto be expanded and is preferably de signed to have assembled thereon a number ofsi'milar ribbed collar'units 42.

Each of the collar units 42 comprises a portion 43 provided with theii inwardly projecting end flanges 44 adapted to receive the keys 45 engaging the longitudinal keyway 46 in the body roll 39.

tresaid body portion 43 of each collar unit-may consist of a casting and affords a otherwise, a tool-steel or equivalent shell 48 ingwhich are cut the longitudinally extending die ribs 49. The die ribs 49 are out upon eachcollar'unit in saw-tooth formation, and cover in close side-by-side relation upon the body 120 roll 39, and are held secure in their assembled positions by the fastening ring-nuts .51 mounted on threaded end portions 52 of-the body roll 39. I panding drum is produced in which the dieribs may be said to extend continuously in straight lines longitudinally of the whole drum, from end to end thereof, so that each rib ofthe drum, made up by the rib sections on the collar units, will present a substan-' tially continuous fiatshoulder that engages is fitted byrivets 47, or

the entire periphery of the v collar unit excepting at one point in its cir- When thus assembled, an ex- I an entire row of strands, and will provide for depressing all of said strands at once over and below the anvil edge Z) of the die block 13. The dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings indicate the continuous die-rib in sheet when a sheet of that form is employed,

regardless of the position of the bonds or keys between the strands in separate rows.

It will be seen from Figs. 9 and 11 of the drawings that when the collar .units 42 are assembled there is a! slight groove left between the ends of contiguous ribs, and the said grooves receive the ends of wires or equivalent stripper elements 64: extending upward to a point just below the active edge of the block B, and downward to a point well below the drum. These elements function to assist in stripping or freeing the expanded mesh from the ribbed drum. as the fabric is drawn downward by the latter.

.Also, a box-like roll guard is arranged adjacent the outer exposed side of the drum and the stripper elements may conveniently be supported therefrom, as shown.

In connection with what has been termed the longitudinally extending die-ribs a slight spiral set may be given to such ribs, by giving a slight spiral set to the keyway 46 in the body roll 39, as may be seen by comparing the said keyway with the roll center line indicated in Fig. 9 of the drawings. Such set is so slight as not to interfere with using straight keys for fastening the collar units to the roll body, not disturbing the longitudinal continuity of each die-rib and the substantially continuous shoulder thereof. The effect of this slight spiral setting of the die ribs is to ease the shock of a rib engaging a whole row or line of strands substantially at the same time.

Any" suitable gearing appliances may be employed for intermittently rotating the expanding roll, one revolution at a time, that is, providing for its continuous rotation through one revolution to expand a slitted metal sheet of a given length and width, the automatic stopping of its motion when thus revolved one revolution, and then starting the same to take up the expansion of the second sheet. However, for illustrative purposes there is shown in the drawings one way of doing that. In such illustration the expanding drum shaft is shown fitted with the spur gear 53 meshing with an intermediate gear unit 54. interposed between the same and a driving pinion 55 on the drive shaft 56 which carries the belt or power pulleys 57.

Associated with these instrumentalities is a clutch-device 58 having a trip lever 59 carry- I 1,ese,774

clutch, thereby automatically stopping therotation of the drum. When another slitted sheet is inserted, and its insideedge entered into the land 50 of the expanding drum, the machine is again started by manipulating the starting lever 62 having an operating connection 63 with the clutch 58 so as to provide for re-engaging the clutch. This operation is repeated while the machine is at work.

Reference has been made herein to the use of a corrugated slitted metal sheetto illustrate one kindof a sheet that may be opened into meshes by the machine. A sheet of thatdescription has been found satisfactory for the practical and commercial operation of the machine. The corrugations not only compensate for shortening of the sheet due to the expanding operation, but also. serve to stiffen the structure and present the strands to the die-teeth of the drum in a way that any tendency of the pressure or strain on the strands to buckle or deflect the sheet is effectually and stoutly resisted. This is due to the fact that the corrugations are presented endwise to the continuous ribs of the expanding drum, and the latter engage first the upstanding crowns or apexes of the corrugations. In that particular the presentinvention provides a new way of opening or expanding a preslitted metal sheet by a drum-type expanding die and necessarily is applicable to a pre-slitted sheet of either plain or corrugated form.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction. operation and many advantages of the herein described expanding machine will now be apparent without further description, and. it will be understood that changes in the form. proportion and minor details of construction may. be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

I claim 1. An expanding machine for pre-slitted metal sheets including a stationary frame member having a die seat, a stationary die block seated therein, a pressure bar'arranged directly above the die block, and a ribbed expandingdrum supported to rotate in proximity to the die pass between said block and bar, said ribs having non-cutting substantially continuous longitudinal shoulders operating on a longitudinal portion of the sheet parallel to the edge of the sheet.

2. An expanding machine for slitted sheets including a frame-work, a stationary frame unit having a three-point support the 'fIame' work, adie block carried including a frame-work compnsing end stands and a base frame, a frame unit having-a support respectively on the base frame 1 and on said end stands, a die block'carried.

by the frame unit, and a rotating ribbed expanding drum.

' 4.'An-expandingmachine for slitted sheets .inclu a frame-work comprising upright end stands, a base frame, and a frame un t having acenter bearing support on said base frame and end bearing support on said base stands, a die block fitted to the frame unit,

and a rotating ribbed expandin ,drum.

5.Anexpanding.machine for tted sheets including a frame-work. com rising end panding drum.

machine including a frame member stands, a baseframe between an connecti said stands, and an-adjustable frame unit having 'a bearing support at the center on said base frame and at its ends-on said end and a frame-unit having a center bearing support on the base frame and end bearing supportson the end stands, the latter bear- J ing support being at a higher elevation than the center bearing sup ort, a die block fitted to the frame 1111113, an a ribbed expanding ing shoulders, 51 base ame connecting said stands, and a table frame unit having a center bearing support on the base frame and 7. An expanding: machine for slitted sheets including a frame-work comprising end stands having inwardl projecting supportend bearing supports on said shoulders, the

latterbeing at a higher elevation than said center bearing support, a die block fitted to the frame unit, and a ribbed expanding rum.

8. Anexpanding for slitted sheets.

- including a frame-work comprising end stands, a base frame connecting said stands and an adjustable framezunit consisting of a trussfranie-provided with a deep central stands, a die block portion having a support on said base flil'ame Mtg relativelynlarow end1 p015 tions avi ar' an po on sai en n8 fitted to the frame unit and aribbedexpanding drum.

' 9. An expanding machine for slitted sheets includin a frame-work comprising upright end stands, ing said stands, and a frame unit slidably supported on the base frame and on said end stands and provided with a tabletop ortion and with a die seat, a die block ad-' ustably mounted in said seat, adjusting means for said frame unit, and a ribbed expanding drum.

10. An ex andingmachine for slitted justa g mounted between said stands, a die block tted to said frame unit, upright supporting brackets on said end stands a pressure bar adjustably mounted 'in said brackets and arran ed within. the'vertical lane of saiddie hock, and a rotatable ri bed exa structural base frame connectsheets including a. frame-work comprising upri ht end stands, a table frame unit adcarrying a stationary die, and a ribbed expanding drum havin its ribs spirally set;

12. A machine inc uding a frame member carrying a stationary die, and an expanding drumcomprising a plurality of ribbed collar units disposed to give a spiral set to the ribs extending lon itudiliall of the drum unit.

' '13. A machine including a frame member sisting of a body member keyed to the body roll and provided with a steel shell having die ribs in saw tooth formation.

15. A machine including a frame member carrying a stationary die, and an expandin drum comprising a plurality of individual ribbed units arranged in side by side relation and having the ribs interrupted at one point in the-circumference thereof to provide a land extending longitudinally of the drum;

In testimony whereof we hereunto afix our signatures.

MELVIN SOLOMON GROH.

a body roll, and a plurality 

